German govt may withhold classified info from states if far-right start winning
State govt powers include intelligence services activities. The far-right – with ties to Moscow – in Saxony-Anhalt could soon win a majority
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Sunday that the federal government is considering withholding information from ministers in state administrations if they are formed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The AfD is regularly criticised for close ties to Moscow.
Polls indicate that the AfD could win an absolute majority in a state election in September in Saxony-Anhalt, meaning that it would form a state government for the first time.
Under Germany’s federal system, state governments have broad powers in many areas, including the activities of the police and intelligence services.
On Saturday, delegates at the AfD’s national convention overwhelmingly re-elected its leaders as tens of thousands of protesters aimed to disrupt the meeting and some clashed with police.
The party sought to show unity as it voted to extend the terms of Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who have headed it for four years as co-leaders and ran unopposed on Saturday.